"Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Now, if only I would choose to use this Sword against the fiery darts of self-pity and discouragement and fretting when I am involved in an attack led by the author of lies. It is so plain to me when someone else is hurting....
I have a friend who is hurting, deeply hurting. She is at a crossroads...for years she has persevered, she has prayed, others have prayed and it seems her situation has come to a head. The last straw is just a temptation to take the easy solution which I am sure will have lasting consequences for her and her children. She is set on making a wrong choice...an understandable choice (humanly speaking) but it is wrong and it cannot be blessed by God because it is contrary to His Word. As I pray for my friend who is in the midst of this awful attack from the wiles of the evil one, this verse Isaiah 41:10 runs through my head. Also, a mirror has been set before my heart. He is showing me myself in my friend's trial.
My heart hurts so much for her. Do you ever feel so broken for someone that your chest just hurts and your throat gets so tight you feel like you are choking. I have no pearls of wisdom to offer, nothing to "relate" that might comfort. It is in my lack, though, that the Lord makes clear His words, His promises and testimony to His immeasurable love for us at all times. It is HIS sword that will do battle- not my ridiculous attempts at trying to appear to be untouchable by any spiritual attack- to touch her back from a distance and say something pat. No, the burden the Lord has allowed me as a friend to help shoulder has filled me with such sorrow and yet at the same time has turned my "eyes" to a "window" through which His light shines. In order to see this window though, I have to turn my gaze from the trial to behold it. Why is that so hard? I don't do that when I am facing a trial...I look and cower at my trial looming over me...I allow the discouragement and hopelessness to settle in my heart. Through my friend's circumstance..I can see what I choose to do in a trial...the chains I choose to wear. If only we would turn and reach to Him...always toward the hope. In Him there will ALWAYS be a note of hope...a way out. His healing grace, His unspeakable depths of joy and comfort are there for the taking...I can see the note of hope in her circumstances. And, when I kneel beside my friend in prayer later today, my prayer will be that she will choose to turn her eyes from her trial to see the love and comfort that pours forth for her right where she is.
Our God is so much bigger than we could ever imagine...why oh why would I want my focus to be on a trial? I pray against the deceit and lies that turn my head aside from the ONE who truly will uphold me in His "right hand of righteousness" no matter what the trial may be. Now, if only I can remember what the Lord has revealed to me in my friend's circumstance when my trials come.
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11 comments:
YOu are such a dear friend! It is not easy to hurt for someone eles. She is blessed to have you for friend and prayer warrior!
Heather..thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and encouragement for your friend. I'm up late tonight fretting about Mom and your blog really was helpful. Love in Him...Karen
What an awesome post...I so appreciate your heart Heather. You write things that so many of us feel or struggle with, but maybe can't put into words like you. I know it's the LORD working in you and I know you give HIM the glory for it all.
I will be praying for your friend...and for you. I *do* know what it is like to hurt so badly for a friend, that it tears your heart apart. I have a situation in my life right now I am dealing with. Praise the Lord that we have hope and comfort just as it says in the verse you posted. (((hugs)))
Love,
Mishel
I'm so sorry you are struggling with this, Heather. You sound like SUCH a power-friend. ;) I've had so many friend troubles the last year, I needed this one, as well. I love your openness to share what a lot of us go through. And to unashamedly use the Word of our Lord to do it, well, it's eye-tearing this evening. Thank you.
Thank you for always being fearless to share with us. So many times I feel so immature in my faith. It is so helpful to get a little glimpse of the grace He grants. I too know that ache, and for your friend I pray she makes the right choice.
Love and prayers for you, Caren
Praise the Lord...it is Him..all Him. A group of us have surrounded her and asked her if she would be willing to fast and pray tomorrow concerning her situation. We pray fervently for the Lord's will to be done. The Lord has so stirred our hearts for her.
Miss Karen...you are such an inspiration, I am praying for you now. It is probably in the middle of the night for you now. I pray you rest well. Love you! Heather
Thank you ladies for your support...and please pray against any hidden pride or wrong motives that might hinder my prayers for this friend. Lord willing she will have changed her mind (and for a good God provided reason) within the next 3 days.
Heather, reading your post I could feel how burdened you are for your friend. I'll pray for you today as you pray with her.
Isaiah 41:10 is my daddy's life verse. It has seen him through many adversities and he has been able to use it in every trial he has faced. He wrote a song, and if I might, I'll share the words with you. He uses the scripture, word for word, for the chorus.
When the devil
comes to greet me
with a plan to cast me down
When he wraps me
up in sorrow
throws my spirit to ground
I seek assurance in the Holy Bible
in Isaiah chapter 41
verse ten
is the answer
to the cross I have won
Fear thou not
for I am with thee
Be not dismayed
For I am they GOD
I will strengthen thee
Yea, I will help thee
Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness
When my day is
filled with sorrow
and it seems
that all I do is fail
When he greets me
as a roaring lion
and I smell
the breath of hell
I seek assurance in the Holy Bible
in Isaiah chapter 41
verse 10
is the answer
to the cross that I have won
Fear thou not
for I am with thee
be not dismayed
for I am thy GOD
I will strengthen thee
Yea, I will help thee
Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness
Yeah, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness
Yeah, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
~Kristi
Kristi, thank you so much for that song!!! It was such a blessing to read today as we will be bathing her situation in prayer. Thank you again for taking the time to type that out. I really appreciate that.-heather
Heather,
You are such a good friend! I will be praying for your friend (and possibly mine too.) I still feel very connected to Maranatha and sometimes listen to the services on the internet. We haven't joined a church here yet, so our hearts are still there.
(((hugs)))
Liz
Liz (((hug))) girl, I need to link your site so I can keep up with you! I know what you mean about your heart being connected still. That is how I feel about my old church Calvary Baptist in Ca. I love Maranatha, but we are only here for 3 years, so we consider our "home" church Calvary though we are pouring our hearts into our Maranatha family. It is such a blessing to have such wonderful church families. Hope you find a church soon! love-heather
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